Bow for vehicle-tops



(No Model.)

- J. M. PERKINS.

BOW FOR VEHICLE TOPS.

Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

' Hearse S .ATEFS PATENT.

FFTCEQ BOW FORQ VEHICLE-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,585, dated September 22, 1885.

Application filed December 1, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bows for Vehicle- Tops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to bows for yehicle-tops; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of the same, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed? It is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of my improved bow finished without a covering; Fig. 2, a side view,with the lower part in section, showing slat-iron and its connections; Fig. 3, a detail view ofa portion of the core, showing its structure.

In the drawings, (4 indicates the slat-iron, which consists of alower curved portion, forming the eye by which it is pivoted to the gooseneck or bow-iron, and an upper portion, a, consisting of a spindle of such length as may be desired, and made to fit into the center of the corecof the bow, (hereinafter described.) This slat-iron may be fastened in this core either by cement or other adhesivematerial, or by means of ascrew-thread out upon said spindle; or the spindle on the slat-iron may be provided with one or more barbs, andascrew or pin can be driven through the core and locked with spindle below one of the barbs. At the connecting-point between the core and slat-iron an enlarged shoulder, a is left upon the slatiron, so that the spindle will fit into the core and the wood of the core surround it,whereby the point of connection of core and slat is at the largest and strongest part of the slat-iron.

The corec is composed of several thinlayers of wood, either with or without cloth, paper, or other fibrous material between the layers, which are firmly cemented together, the grain of such layers of wood to runin the same direction with the layers and with the bow. By this method I obtain a very firm and adhesive joint. At the lower end of the core and at its connection with the slat-ironasmallferrule, D, is placed oversaid core and slat-iron, thereby strengthening the same at that point. At the upper end of this core, to form a receptacle for the downwardbent ends of the upper portion of the bow, a'metal ferrule, E, slightly tapering from its ends to the center, the tapering parts corresponding in shape with the core,

is placed over the same. The ferrule is secured in place by rivets or by any other suitable means. The slots m, to be made of any width or length desired on the sides of the socket, are for tacking the lining or covering, or for knobs or buttons to be inserted, if desired. This socket can be made round or elliptic in shape. I prefer that theinside core should be round,which would enable one to cut the core to shape and obtain the shoulder at the lower point,i,- orin place of the shoulderi on the upper portion of the core, as shown, that part of the core may be made tapering to correspond to the shape of the lower part of the ferrule, and the core may then be driven through the ferrule, thus forming a wedge-fastening; and the ferrule E may be provided with alateral projection, F, as shown, for connection with a top-prop. One side ofthe upper socket of the ferrule E may also be extended, as shown at G, Figs. 1 and 2, to form an additional strengtheningconnection with the top-bow. This extension G is made nearly fiat, and may be bent slightly at the top to conform to the curve of the top-bow, and fastened thereto with screws, nails, or rivets. This addition will absolutely secure a firm and stiff joint, and will be very desirable to small manufacturers,as the bows can be made up just the length required fora correct job. This core and ferrule are then wound or covered with veneering and paper or textile material, and finished ready to paint or japan; also, if desired, the core and ferrule can be covered with leather.

It will be seen by the construction of the bow herein described that great strength and also lightness are obtained.

By making the core of layers of wood cemented together it is impossible to break the same in any ordinary manner, and,with the grain of the wood and the layers running in the same direction with the bow, the bow will be held perfectly straight without the use of braces or wires, as has been heretofore the custom, and it can at the same time be made much lighter.

By fitting the slat-iron, as described, into the center of the core, w1th the point of connection between core and slat-iron firmly held by the small ferrule D, both lightness and strength are obtained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a bow for vehicle-tops, the solid core composed entirely of thin layers of wood cemented together, with the grain of the layers running in the same direction with the bow, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the top-bow and core. the upper metal ferrule slightly tapering both ways from the center for the reception at its opposite ends of the core and top bow, substantially as described.

J OHN M. PERKINS.

Witnesses: CHARLES M. COLLINS I. PERDUE. 

